Abstract

In vitro and in vivo antiamoebic potential of the Sinularia elongata tixier-durivault

Author(s): Vijai Lakshmi, Sheela Ghosal

Aim: Human amoebiasis due to Entamoeba histolytica infection ismainly associated with morbidity thus affecting the quality of life and pace of developmental activities of countrieswithwarmclimatic conditions. So far, available drugs have been found to be too toxic or providing only symptomatic relief that leads to obtain novel molecules with antiamoebic activity fromnatural products.Material andmethods : Themethanol extract of Sinularia elongate Tixier-Durivault was prepared which showed antiamoebic activity. Therefore the methanol extract was fractionated into four fractions (hexane, chloroform, n-butanol soluble and n-butanol insoluble fractions). Results and discussion :Methanol extract showedMIC 125 ìg/ml in our in-vitro studies, but when it was tested in vivo in rats, it showed 80% inhibition of trophozoites at the dose of 900 mg/kg body weight against Entamoeba histolytica. Out of this only chloroformsoluble fraction showed 80%inhibition of trophozoites at 900mg/kg dose. Conclusion : Further work is in progress for the isolation and characterization of active molecules.